Country gets its first Yoga University in Gujrat

The university will offer a three-year degree course for those aged between 15 to 35 in ashtang yoga, karma, bhakti yoga, philosophy, psychology, anatomy, ayurveda and naturopathy

The country’s first Yoga University, Lakulish Yoga University was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday . The private university has been set up by the Life Mission Trust of Gujarat near Chharodi in front of Nirma University on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway. The University has been pioneered by Swami Rajarshi Muni who has been spreading the yoga education across the state. It is claimed to be the first ever such private sector self-financed institution in the country. The state government had earlier enacted a law for creation of a Yoga university in the state.

The university has been named after Lakulish who is considered to be the 28th and the last Avatar manifestation of Rudra (Shiva) and the propounder of Yoga system.

Narendra Modi in its’ inaugural speech advocated yoga’s inclusion in the foreign policy and emphasized on the need to spread yoga officially across the world as an Indian tradition. “The whole world is curious about yoga. It would have been better if successive governments of our country had included it as a path to connect India with the entire world,” Modi said. “Yoga was intentionally neglected by Britishers while they were ruling the country as they feared that through yoga India will become powerful in the world.But even after Independence, we didn’t come out of the slave mentality and continue to ignore the importance of yoga. And sometimes by equating yoga with communalism, we inflicted a great damage on us,” he added.

“Today, every human being in the world is confused, unhappy and is seeking inner peace. He does not need materialistic wealth but needs peace and only yoga taught by a professional, an exponent or a complete teacher can facilitate this peace,” he said.
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“Earlier, people used to question the logic of yoga, saying at a time when advances have been made in the field of science how can anyone talk about yoga. Today, not just this country, but the entire world has accepted the power of yoga,” the chief minister said.

The university will offer a three-year degree course for those aged between 15 to 35 in ashtang yoga, karma, bhakti yoga, philosophy, psychology, anatomy, ayurveda and naturopathy. There will also be short term courses for senior citizens. Swami Rajarshi Muni said the university will not have any language barrier and anybody from across the world can pursue yoga courses at the university.